On April 20, as expected, Gov. Wolf vetoed Senate Bill 613 (Mensch-R-Montgomery) which would have the effect of reopening most businesses immediately in the Commonwealth.
Another Republican bill-- Senate Bill 327 (Argall-R-Schuylkill)-- that would also open many businesses immediately and allow counties to lift COVID-19 restrictions on business is scheduled to be voted on by the House and also sent to the Governor.
In his veto message for Senate Bill 613, Gov. Wolf said--
"These are unprecedented times, with no easy choices. My highest priority remains protecting the health and safety of all Pennsylvanians during this emergency.
"Because of our critical steps and sacrifices over the past month, we have slowed the spread of COVID-19, but we continue to have between 1,000 and 2,000 new cases a day.
"This is not an easy decision, but it is the right course for Pennsylvania. Reopening tens of thousands of businesses too early will only increase the spread of the virus, place more lives at risk, increase the death tolls, and extend the length of the economic hardships created by the pandemic.
"Instead, we need a measured and staggered approach to reopening the economy. This approach needs to include not only a decline in the spread of the virus, but also an integrated approach for how and when to open businesses and what additional measures are needed to ensure our businesses are safe and our health care system can support us.
"Although we are no longer seeing exponential growth in the new cases of the virus, the peak of COVID-19 cases has likely not been reached.
"The next few weeks will be difficult for all Pennsylvanianas-- for health care workers, for families, for essential employees, for older Pennsylvanians and for business owners.
"We need to continue to bend the curve; we need to stay home. If we let go of this strategy too soon, all of our progress could be lost.
"While we continue to take the difficult and critical steps to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, I recognize that we must look ahead.
"This is why I recently announced a set of standards we will use as part of a comprehensive strategy that first focuses on our public health, but also addresses the need to restore our economy."
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[Posted: April 20, 2020]
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